M2 May 2018 - LATEST ISSUE!
Sports News: May 2018
The One To Watch Wyatt Crockett Longevity the Maketh of a Legend If he plays every game leading up to the Eden Park clash with the Blues, Wyatt Crockett will become the first player to reach 200 Super Rugby games. And, with his track record it’s not hard to imagine he’ll play a part in...
The Place To Be
Race To The Hills A mad group start on the 5th stage of Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge; these motorbikers are ready to burn some serious rubber. One of the world’s most prestigious international racing racks, the Desert Challenge is stretched over five days and reaches across the United AraB Emirates. The rusty colours of the...
Editors Letter – May 2018
On Monday 26th of March 2018 while the April issue of M2 was being printed we learned of a tragedy involving one of our feature profiles, Volvo Ocean Race sailor, John Fisher. His team, Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag reported that John had been lost overboard in gale force conditions whilst the team was racing through the...
Go Balls Out
Testicular Cancer is fast becoming a major problem around the world, being the most common malignancy in young men. About 9,310 new cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed daily worldwide and there are 400 deaths as a result. Last month, it was International Testicular Cancer Awareness Month – a national call-out to young and...
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Sand, Surf And Success
As a child, Matt-Lewis Hewitt had always been drawn towards sports that required discipline, teamwork and structured routine. Sports like rugby, swimming, surf lifesaving, water polo and, especially, surfing. Starting at 14 years old, it took Hewitt just 18 months before he was competing professionally in surfing. The young prodigy was headed for success, no […]
The One To Watch – Opie Bosson
Opie Bosson Reins Supreme In The Twilight Of His Career In a sports world obsessed and put into context by statistics, the phenomenal haul of veteran Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson has to be studied twice to truly appreciate. In a 23 year career in the ruthless racing industry, the 37 year old has amassed over […]
Winning Formula With Brendon Hartley
New Zealand boasts a rich history of names in the realm of motorsport – Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, Possom Bourne, Greg Murphy, Scott Dixon and Mitch Evans are just a selection of names in the NZ motorsport pantheon. While Kiwi drivers have had success across a variety of motorsport competitions and rulesets, there is one […]
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Gentle Art
My first sparring session (or ‘roll’, as its known colloquially) was an education into how vulnerable we are. It’s comparable to being thrown into a pool without knowing how to swim, or trying to control a boa constrictor. I remember being absolutely manhandled. Using pressure and techniques completely foreign to me, I was dissected in […]
Style
Best Of The Watch Fairs – 2018
What with luxury watch brands having slipped back into the mainstream market for watch buyers, the timepiece is still very much alive and well. The big names in the watch business – Switzerland, Italy etc – still produce top-quality timepieces that will stand the test of time. M2 have put together a list of luxury...
If The Shoe Fits
Start the day on the right foot by making sure your shoe game is on point....
Style Update – May 2018
It’s time to fully embrace all the latest and greatest Autumn style trends. Here’s all the trends and pieces you need to get in on. Vans Vans never seem to fail anyone when they’re looking for fashionable, easy-to-wear shoes. They have the street cred as well. If you were a youngster in the early 80’s,...
Change Up
Delve into the right products for cooler days with moisturising skincare and fragrances in notes of sandalwood and spice, perfect for autumn....
Wild
11 Deadliest Animals on the Planet, And How to Survive Them
The animal kingdom is a strange and wonderful place. From architects to mimes, assassins to philanderers, each animal has its own niche, a role and place. While we regularly encounter cats, dogs, birds and bugs, our chances of seeing dangerous animals are usually limited to visiting the zoo or watching The Discovery Channel. But while...
Surgeons of the Sea
Free Willy vs Jaws… who wins? Hollywood has altered our expectations about how this sort of apex predator duel would go down. Unless you spend more time watching documentaries than old movies on VHS, then the answer isn’t so clear. The biggest great white sharks can measure six metres long, weigh more than 2200 kilograms...
Walk on the Wild Side
Expressionist American photographer, Aaron Siskind once said: ‘Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…’ We bring you the iconic shots from The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017, developed and produced by the National History Museum, London. Capturing the most magical parts of...
Behind The Lens: Open Ocean
The thought of delving into the deep and getting face-to-face with some of the world’s biggest and deadliest beasts is not something everyone can face. But it is a different story for underwater videographer and adrenaline junkie, Steve Hathaway. Fascinated about life under the surface, M2 dove straight in when the opportunity arose to talk...
Snow
Climbing The Podium: Kiwis at the Winter Paralympics
The Winter Games, both Olympic and Paralympic, usually pass with minimal mention down under, but in the case of the compact Kiwi Paralympian team heading to South Korea this March, there’s reason to take notice. For a global event that is heavily dominated by northern hemisphere athletes, New Zealand participants more than hold their own....
New Zealand Snow Guide 2017
With a cold blast hitting much of New Zealand earlier than expected, ski fields the length of the country have been able to open with bonus time to spare. Seasoned snow bunnies know their spots on both islands, but for those looking to venture out and experience new terrain and thrills, where do you go...
The Mazda SKI-ACTIV Experience
I vividly remember the first time I actually put skis on and hit (quite literally) the snow. I was in my late teens and full of bravado; I headed to the top of the chairlift, strapped on two planks of wood and shot down the slope – straight into a tree. The sensation was both...
STEF ZEESTRATEN: HALFPIPE HEDONIST
From one of the flattest countries in the world, to the sharp ascents of the Southern Alps, Dutch-born Stef Zeestraten has, as is his wont, carved a name for himself in New Zealand snowboarding folklore. Throughout his 17-year competitive career that saw him peak at 47th in the world in 2008, Zeestraten has followed the serious...
Leadership
Reinvention At Scale
Spark CEO, Simon Moutter, is leading our largest telco through the one of the most disruptive eras in business and the tech industry. All whilst reinventing the nature and structure of a company that employs thousands of New Zealanders and invests hundreds of millions into infrastructure. This is a process that is helped by the logic and pragmatism of a...
Richard Branson’s 75 Close Shaves
Unwavering, relentless persistence, those are the words I would use to describe Richard Branson. He’s built a global brand and personal lifestyle, from scratch that fascinates us with its continuous momentum, near misses and massive achievements. How many international entrepreneurs would be working deals and businesses in massive markets like the UK, the USA, Europe,...
Industry In Site
Over the past few years, we have seen a huge jump in the level of innovation, experience and concepts within the hospitality industry in this part of the world. No longer do we have to jump on a plane to get unique and exciting hospitality experiences. We are creating world-class cafes, restaurants, hotels and developments...
Impact From Simplicity
In a world of exponential innovation, disruptive technologies and giddy cryptocurrency speculation a discussion about another KiwiSaver fund might seem a little vanilla. But after a few minutes with Simplicity founder, Sam Stubbs even the most finically unfocused would be hard pressed not to find excitement in compounded interest from saved fees, the growth of...
Gadgets
Checking out the Huawei P10
The P10 and P10 Plus came out in April, and continue to be Huawei’s flagship top tier phones designed to take on the likes of Apple and Samsung. Their particular niche has been designing cameras that give their conventional counterparts a run for their money. To achieve this Huawei teamed up with Leica to coengineer the...
Belkin Pack Smart
Portability and practicality – the foundational demands of twenty‑first-century living. Think about it. You’ve got a phone called a “mobile”. A computer called a “laptop”. But what’s the point of having fancy gadgets and mod cons if they’re just going to end up getting chipped, scratched and shattered? Belkin know their gadgets and the importance...
Amazon Go – Disrupting The Way You Shop
Like the words “synergy” and “ecosystem”, “disrupt” is in the Mount Rushmore of trendy buzzword neologisms. Real tech disruption, however, is indeed that – disruption. Uber disrupted the taxi industry. Netflix didn’t just disrupt places like Video Ezy and Blockbuster, it killed them off like a superior species in the next phase of evolution. Tech...
Gadgets: Soundcast VG7
A good soundtrack can prove to be the missing ingredient that can enhance an experience. You’ve got the BBQ fired up, the steaks sizzling, brews in hand while the cooing of the Backstreet Boys Foo Fighters rallies the party together. Or maybe you’ve opted for a candlelit dinner for two and have Sade playing softly...
Mandate
Polling the Nation
We took to social media for your opinions on these hot topics PETA Campaign comes from left field A PETA campaign featuring Alicia Silverstone puts shearing sheep into the spotlight for being what they think is unethical. “This is quite frankly ridiculous and another predictable example of what PETA resort to when they seek attention...
The Soelcat 12
While the world still has hotspots of (relatively) untouched island getaways, the environmental effects of tourism are slowly adding blemishes to the sheen of these immaculate islands.The SoelCat 12 could be a solution. Ahh, the island paradise. With its turquoise waters, sand the texture of talcum powder and warm, temperate climate, who wouldn’t want...
Charlie Hunnam, Making of A Legend
You’ve likely heard of the legendary King Arthur and the extraction of the enchanted sword, Excalibur, from the stone, but who on earth is Charlie Hunnam? Sons of Anarchy fans will know the English actor as bikie, Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller, and women wish they knew him, as he was one of the original picks for...
The Gemma Observatory
There’s something quite awe-inspiring about stargazing. Looking deep into the speckled abyss of the cosmos is a humbling sensation felt by all since the dawn of humankind. Stargazers both serious and amateur will be left, well, starstruck by the Gemma Observatory – a slick, custom built observatory in that can rotate to give different views...
Man on the Street
Man On The Street – Henry Beasley
When your life is full of writing, acting, producing AND being the lead singer of a band, you’re bound to have something interesting to say. Henry Beasley takes a few minutes with M2 to discuss life, success and motivation in this edition of Man On The Street: Age: 24 Occupation: Writer, actor, producer and...
Man On The Street – Jared Smith
If you didn’t need money, what would you do? “I’d still build. I’d build cars, build tree houses, build cool alternative structures. I am not one to be able to do nothing, I always find something to keep my hands busy” – This guy clearly loves his job. Age: 28 Occupation: Owner of Round...
Man On The Street – Adam Metcalf
Age 27 Occupation: Head Chef at Lula Inn What’s your morning routine? A PT session at Les Mills and then straight into the kitchen for work. What’s the top three things on your bucket list? 1. Nevis Bungy jump 2. Visit Old Trafford 3. Eat at Alinea restaurant in Chicago What advice would you give...
Man On The Street – Shawn Pope
Age: 46 Occupation: Director of Melba Group What’s your morning routine? Starts with coffee, preferably roasted by Espresso Workshop, it always has! What are the top three things on your bucket list? Spend a white Christmas with my family in the States, travel on the Orient Express (can’t wait to see St Petersburg), windsurf on...
Design
Amazon Goes Green Spheres
Kindle, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Prime, Amazon Go, Alexa. Amazon are ever the innovators and that’s not even considering the behemoth that is their online shopping platform. And, with CEO Jeff Bezos firmly set as the richest person on the planet with a net worth of $120.5 billion (USD), Amazon have decided to celebrate their...
The Electric Future – Tesla Stem
Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark – they don’t exist. Sorry folks. We do have Elon Musk, however. And, quite frankly, that’ll do. Whether he has his sights set to the stars with SpaceX, disrupting the automotive world with Tesla or providing powerwalls to a broken Puerto Rico, Musk is doing this whole billionaire philanthropist thing quite...
The Gemma Observatory
There’s something quite awe-inspiring about stargazing. Looking deep into the speckled abyss of the cosmos is a humbling sensation felt by all since the dawn of humankind. Stargazers both serious and amateur will be left, well, starstruck by the Gemma Observatory – a slick, custom built observatory in that can rotate to give different views...
NZ Architect wins German Design Award
It sits there in the heart of Auckland’s Titirangi. A corrugated beating heart surrounded by native bush with the warbling sing-song of Tui and Kereru as the soundtrack. While you might think that the seclusion of West Auckland’s native bush would mask the design mastery of “Red House”, it employs the opposite effect, so much...
Deep Dives
The Modern Day Space Race
The solar system we occupy is a fascinating place, that’s for certain – nine planets that glow as beacons and an uncountable infinity of stars. Beginning in the late 1950s, a race pitted capitalist America against communist Soviet Union to see who was superior with their space technology. The Soviets took the lead by launching...
Who Is Using Your Data?
Zuckerberg: Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard Just ask. I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS [Redacted Friend’s Name]: What? How’d you manage that one? Zuckerberg: People just submitted it. I don’t know why. They “trust me”. Zuckerberg: Dumb f**ks. This was an ironically leaked series of messages between...
All Hail Our Secret Government
It’s a golden time for lobbyists at the moment. We’ve just had a change in government and that means it’s time for everything to change, come what may. Duh, it has to – as the last guys obviously got every single thing wrong! But there’s a slight problem in that, aside from a couple of...
The Fight For Gender Diversity – An Ad Man’s POV
So, a high-powered panel of female leaders featuring Theresa Gattung, Justine Smyth, Tracey Cross, Naomi Ballantyne and Linda Meade were at the M2woman Journey to Excellence forum recently. I think it’s fair to say that the gist of their forum was; “we want moregender equality in the workplace! Now, dammit! Now!” Huh? Is this really...
Cover Stories
Strange Magic – Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch is one of those guys you don’t forget or mix up with somebody else. He doesn’t have “one of those faces” that everyone else has. You’re not going to mix him up with Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth, two people that looked so similar their parents both came to the conclusion that they...
Double Edged: The Return of Blade Runner
We’re treading on hallowed ground now. We all knew that one day Hollywood’s rummaging hand would light upon a classic like Blade Runner. They’ve already made the right first move by not rebooting everything from scratch. The second move they need to make is far more nuanced. Just a little background for readers who are...
The Shape Shifter – Matthew McConaughey In the Dark Tower
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed”. Back in 1978, with these tantalising words, a young man called Stephen King began an epic narrative that is still unfolding to this very day. King would go on to become one of the best-selling popular novelists in the world, a modern-day Charles...
Eddie Redmayne – The Real Fantastic Beast
I try my best to avoid cliche, but there’s this famous quote that goes, “if you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life”. While normally I would lump that quote in with gems such as “live, laugh, love” and “keep calm and carry on”, I feel like using...
Success
Playing the Perfect Host
I recently had a chat with Dominic Bowden, (X-Factor, Dancing With the Stars, The Bachelor) about our shared connection with ‘anamorphic’ artist Edgar Mueller, who recently passed through the country as part of the launch for Mazda’s new CX-5. I had the ignoble task of holding Mueller up in the departures lounge for an interview...
Marketing – The Necessary Evil
Marketing is often referred to as a necessary evil in many businesses. In a world that’s over-saturated with choice, information and contradicting advice, it can often be overwhelming. With no one tried and tested successful formula that can be blanketed to every industry, it is also frustrating for both the client and marketing agency trying...
How Great People Make A Great Company
Behind any successful business, you’ll usually find great people. The business I founded nine years ago, Pure SEO, is no exception. I’m constantly in awe of my team—and often wonder how I’m the one (sort of) running the company! So many of our people are passionate, committed and incredibly driven, which is what I attribute...
4 Ways to be a Job-Hunting Warrior
If you are looking at changing jobs or even finding a job to start with, the process can be soul destroying. It may very well come down to how many jobs you apply for – after all, a great job is hardly likely to fall into your lap – but what happens if you’re seriously...
Amazing Photos
The Next Revolution
The next revolution in photography has landed as the Sony World Photography Awards, an annual competition held by the World Photography Organization. A stunning celebration of capturing life’s most precious moments with just one click. On its 11th year (and counting), the awards are back and bigger than ever. Over 320,000 entries were considered last...
What Lies Beneath
From growing up in a small town in North Canterbury, to hosting his very own series, picked up by a global documentary giant – National Geographic – Ellis Emmett truly is an inspiration to get out there and get stuck into something you love and turn your ideas and dreams into a reality. We manage...
The Art of Abandonment, Photo Series Captures Civilizations Losing Battle Against Nature
Destroyed, decayed and derelict – all key elements that Jonk, a well-seasoned French photographer, seeks in his ultimate subject matter, for his ongoing series depicting abandoned structures. Do you come from a photography background? I did not study photography and learned everything myself, mostly from reading and exchanging ideas with fellow photographers. My background is...
The Art Of Fakery
Austrian photographer Gregor Sailer is a changer of landscapes, and a tricker of minds. Photographs in his latest series, The Potemkin Village, strike a sense of confusion… but not everything is as it may seem. While growing up in Tyrol, Austria, Gregor Sailer started taking snaps at a young age and has not stopped...
Sport
Sports – March 2018
The One To Watch: Blair Tuke New Zealand sailing’s unsung hero Team New Zealand trimmer and 49er legend Blair Tuke hasn’t always been in his good mate, Peter Burling’s shadow and he has stepped out of it again by continuing New Zealand’s proud history in the Volvo Ocean Race. Before the America’s Cup became the...
The Ultimate Redemption Story
As clichéd as it sounds, Emirates Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup triumph in Bermuda is the ultimate redemption story. Whatever drove the team in the early days after the catastrophe in San Francisco four years earlier was potent enough to push them through a myriad of challenges and, against all odds and rationale, put together the...
Hayden Paddon, Gravel Guru
A generation after the world-beating deeds of the late Possum Bourne, rally star Hayden Paddon has once again put Kiwi drivers on the map. The Hyundai driver has become a fixture on the world’s loose roads for the past four years and has been supremely competitive when all the stars align. In such a condensed...
The Monthly Sports Agenda – August 2017
MAYWEATHER V MCGREGOR Not many of us wouldn’t get in the ring with Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather for a reported $180 million US and loudmouth Irishman Conor McGregor has the chance to make some dubious history. The fight between the undefeated Mayweather and the UFC drawcard is set to break all sorts of commercial records and...
Bucket List Experiences
Destination Du Jour – Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast
Greeted by hectares of lush tropical gardens with the ocean in sight, and lagoon pools beckoning in a shimmering blue, the magical holiday atmosphere is unmistakable at the Sheraton Grand Mirage. A swim-up bar serving cocktails in glasses the size of a fishbowl is just one of the reasons that this five-star resort is ideal...
Rising Dawn
It’s still pitch black when our alarms go off – 4.15am to be exact. Despite the early morning start, it’s easy to offset my drowsy, zombie-like mind with the sheer excitement of what’s on the agenda for today. While our time in New South Wales’ premier wine region, Hunter Valley, had so far consisted of...
Home & Away
Whether you’re willing to forgo creature comforts for a one-of-a-kind experience in a traditional Navajo Indian hut, or still living lavishly without the swarms of tourists and lacklustre room service, we’ve compiled six off-the-beaten-path holiday rentals to help you temporarily forget your woes and fulfil your fantasies of solitude. Bridge Studio – Fogo Island, Canada It’s...
Top 10 Hikes In New Zealand
Walking, hiking, tramping – they’re Kiwi traditions that everyone loves. There are a wide variety of walks around the country to suit anyone and everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or an old hand, there’s a walk out there for you. Here at the M2 office, we’re big fans of anything that’s fun, active, and gives...
Wheels
Ford Ranger Raptor: Performance & Baja Ha Ha
A recent study by Ford research boffins in Europe highlighted that regularly driving a sports car can greatly increase your sense of wellbeing and emotional fulfillment. Therefore, although our off-roading friends may find a certain sense of pleasure slowly wallowing around in the mud ruts of the countryside, they have evidently, by owning a mere...
Wheels News – August 2017
Aston Martin Go ahead, drool, as Aston Martin reveals more ‘Valkyrie’ secrets.Rightfully there is a thirst for more knowledge about the Aston Martin Valkyrie – so here’s what we know so far. The Hypercar is powered by a 6.5L V12 (and some electric wizardry) that will produce 1000hp. Two massive Venturi tunnels feed the rear...
The New Bentley Continental GT
First shown off at IAA Frankfurt Motor Show this year, the Bentley Continental GT is a sight to behold and a pleasure to drive and it’s coming to New Zealand soon. At the heart of the new British-designed, engineered and hand-crafted, third-generation Continental GT sits an all-new enhanced version of Bentley’s 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI engine,...
Simple Pleasures – The new CX-5 Launch
Let’s face it, modern everyday life can be pretty busy. Between the necessity of work and the demands that come with family and friends, there seems to be so much pressure to do things. Time appears to be going by so fast (even speeding up) and very little of it is spent metaphorically speaking ‘silently...
Health
Health News – October 2017
Get into the best gear, and get your body ready for from the inside to make the most of your workout. NEW BALANCE If you are that way inclined, then you can understand the struggle of finding a performance shoe that looks just as good as it performs. The New Balance 574 Sport is a...
Healing without Scars
Be it from when you tripped and fell as a kid, an accidental burn, or if you got your appendix removed, scars can be rather unpleasant and unsightly. And while scars can’t be completely removed at present, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Dermatology have found a way to make fresh wounds heal...
Comvita Propolis Spray
Propolis has well-known antioxidant properties to maintain a healthy immune system. Comvita® Propolis Oral Spray Extra Strength 20ml contains a special blend of high-quality Propolis and UMF® 10+ Manuka Honey and essential oils formulated for oral health and hygiene – a perfect travel companion. Comvita® Propolis Oral Spray Extra Strength 20ml, $35, www.comvita.co.nz ...
Health News – November 2017
In light of it being Movember, be sure to get a check-up from your doctor, to get that all-clear. ‘Grow a Mo, save a bro’ Movember is this month, lads. So go grow yourself a mo. Call some mates together, go for a run, get the word out and raise some money for men’s health....
Entertainment
Must Watch This Month
All the blockbusters are dropping around us at the moment and we’re heading on toward the middle of the year. But don’t worry, there won’t be a complete drought. There are a couple decent films coming out to keep us interested. ATOMIC BLONDE Academy award winner Charlize Theron does a gritty and awesome take on...
Stephen King – Author Credit
The infamous 1986 horror novel IT will be seen in a different light the movie hits the big screens this September. We hear from the man, Stephen King himself, about what he thinks of the upcoming iteration. When you watch a film based on one of your books, like IT, do you find yourself thinking...
The Author To Know: David Lagercrantz
Best-selling author of I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 11 other well-known titles, Lagercrantz is a man who wears numerous hats. One moment he is a journalist, the next he is a biographer, the next a ghost-writer, then a novelist. A man of sheer talent and verve. Born in Solna in 1962 to Olof Lagercrantz (a...
Gregg Hurwitz
Gregg Hurwitz – the New York Times bestselling writer of 19 novels, numerous screenplays for films and a New York Times Bestselling graphic novelist for 14 comic books – has definitely hit the ground running when it comes to producing top-quality, thrilling fiction. With multiple award nods under his belt – such as a two-time...
Food
Where Our Chefs Eat: The Ultimate Mans Guide
There’s nothing worse than pining after a dish all day, only to be miserably disappointed when your order doesn’t quite live up to the expectations. With a dizzying array of options dotted around the city, it’s hard to know where to even begin. To avoid a serious case of food disappointment, we spoke to some...
Recipe: Butter Infused With All Natural Ingredients
When it comes to summer food there is one thing many of us look forward to all year – BBQs. Perfectly cooked steak, fresh prawns and locally caught fish with summer salads and perla potatoes. It’s a summer tradition, really! Award-winning chef Owen Sinclair has created a must-have for your next BBQ with Flavour Fiend...
Destination Du Jour – Luxury With An Alibi
We all love a luxury dining experience, one filled with a chic interior, outstanding aesthetic and a complete sensory experience. Alibi restaurant delivers this and more, as Australia’s first ever 100% fully plant-based restaurant. Australia’s first ever 100 percent fully plant-based restaurant, Alibi, opened this March. Located in the Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo, on the...
The Burger Battle
Each week seems to bring another burger joint opening, but hey, we’re not complaining. But with each new opening comes a new concept, so which fusion, style or flavour do you pick? Better Burger These guys seem to be taking on the city, with the recent opening of their Sylvia Park store showing they have...
Wine
Winter Warmers… More Great Wines to Bring to a Dinner Party
Warm up your winter evenings around a good drop of red. It’s a great time of year for dinner parties. Time to get light the fire, light the candles, relax and enjoy one another’s company over a nice roast and a good bottle of red. The challenge is to choose the right wine for the...
The Champagne Campaign: the new Mumm Grand Cordon
Be it sprayed on the podium after an F1 race, raised as a toast at a gathering of colleagues and associates, or popped open for a special occasion, champagne is a prerequisite for any celebration. Hailing from a long line of German barons and knights going back to the 12th century, the Mumm family founded...
Pinot Noir Game Changers
The Pinot Noir grape hails from Burgundy in France. While their origins are in France you’ll find that our New Zealand Pinot Noirs are quite unique. It is this uniqueness that has our wine producers looking to Pinot Noir to being the next big export success – on the back of their outstanding success with...
Chardonnay VS. Chablis
In this issue we compare some of our best New Zealand Chardonnays with their close relatives from the Chablis region of France. The big difference we found was the flinty minerality of the Chablis versus the more dominant fruit flavours that came through in their New Zealand counterparts. To be called a Chablis they must...
Coach Your Way To Success
5 tactics to tackle workplace stress
Running a fast-growing company can be difficult; the buck stops with you and, as well as the ‘big picture’ strategic and leadership work, you’re often dealing with issues and fighting fires. You have to delegate and put your trust in other people and, invariably, some of them let you down, which only adds to the...
Mind Power
Your life and your world is a consequence of what you think. You may not realise your mind is an incredibly powerful tool and even the Einstein’s and Hawking’s were using less than 10% so learn how to use it and enjoy unbelievable success. I have just had the most wonderful weekend learning “how to...
Maximise Your Marketing Efforts this Christmas
Whether you love it or hate it, Christmas is almost here. Aside from leaving you out of pocket for the best part of the following quarter, the season is a great time to increase your sales, improve your brand and reconnect with your clients and customers. Unless you have a relevant product or service to...
Thank God for Disruptors
Disruption occurs when the environment you are working and living in is stifled and not open and flexing freely like it would when it is dynamic and unrestricted. It also occurs when the new way is: Cheaper More available Faster Creates a better experience Is easier and more responsible Sustainable Being able to adapt quickly...
Luxury Watches
Montblanc TimeWalker Collection
Paying tribute to Minerva’s extraordinary heritage, Montblanc takes a journey back to the glory days of motor racing with five new TimeWalker timepieces that capture the beauty, spirit and values of motorsport history. Professional watches are reborn, highlighting the performance and innovation of the new Montblanc TimeWalker collection. The Rebirth of Professional Watches Car racing...
M2 Luxury Watch Guide 2017
The phrase ‘time is relative to the observer’ arose from Albert Einstein’s field equations, which were published in 1915. Although he was talking about time as it pertains to general relativity, this extends to us as observers within the human condition. A minute can feel like hours at moments of stress. Conversely, the oft-thrown-around idiom...
Omega Picks of 2017
Seamaster Planet Ocean Sporting an eye-catching navy blue and burnt orange colourway, “Big Blue” as Omega have nicknamed it, is bold in style, clever in design and grabs attention in a manner vastly different to your standard luxury watches. Omega have springboarded off the success of last year’s Planet Ocean “Deep Black” and have dived deeper...
TAG Heuer Picks of 2017
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon Baguette Diamonds Jack Heuer, great-grandson of founder Edouard Heuer, designed the original Carrera in 1963, inspired by the speed, thrill and edginess in the world of auto-racing. The 2017 Carrera Heuer-02T Tour channels the daredevil bravado of Carrera’s past and injects it with the unabandoned flashiness and swagger of the...
Drink
The Single Malt Whisky Night
Recently a few of us lads in the neighborhood got together and established the Renfrew Whisky Appreciation Society. While it sounds incredibly sophisticated, it’s not. It is a bunch of blokes looking for a good excuse to imbibe good whisky. The concept is simple, it always revolves around Single Malt whisky and entry is by...
Clink Clink Drink
Whiskey has been a passion of mine for a while now. Way before I started my Instagram, @clinkclinkdrink, I would enjoy a regular dram with my dad. Since then I have embraced the full definition of what whiskey can be – Scotch, Irish, bourbon, rye, even New Zealand and Japanese. Whiskey is great neat, but...
New Whisky Alert: Ardbeg An Oa
It’s Friday, so what do you have lined up tonight? Because heads up for Whiskey lovers, a new Single Malt hit NZ yesterday, the Ardbeg An Oa. Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, Dr Bill Lumsden, says, “Ardbeg An Oa’s rounded and subtly smoky aromas reflect all the contrasts of the Mull...
Limited numbers of bottles of this whisky are landing in NZ, here’s when & where to find them
Extending the annual Islay Whisky Festival – Feis Ile – in Scotland slightly, Ardbeg Day will be celebrated in New Zealand on Saturday June 3. The celebrations stretch across the country in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. There will be celebrations along with the official release of the limited edition Ardbeg Kelpie for purchase, paired canapes...
Authors
Clive Cussler – The Underwater Adventurer
Best-selling author of up to 70 books (and counting), Clive Cussler is a writer with an insanely vivid imagination. Swashbuckling adventures, megalomaniac villains, the electricity of espionage, the excitement of discovering sunken ships…intrigue, action, a snippet of humour – there’s something for every reader in Cussler’s writing. The author of The Mediterranean Caper (1973), Sahara...
The Author To Know: David Lagercrantz
Best-selling author of I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 11 other well-known titles, Lagercrantz is a man who wears numerous hats. One moment he is a journalist, the next he is a biographer, the next a ghost-writer, then a novelist. A man of sheer talent and verve. Born in Solna in 1962 to Olof Lagercrantz (a...
Stephen King – Author Credit
The infamous 1986 horror novel IT will be seen in a different light the movie hits the big screens this September. We hear from the man, Stephen King himself, about what he thinks of the upcoming iteration. When you watch a film based on one of your books, like IT, do you find yourself thinking...
Gregg Hurwitz
Gregg Hurwitz – the New York Times bestselling writer of 19 novels, numerous screenplays for films and a New York Times Bestselling graphic novelist for 14 comic books – has definitely hit the ground running when it comes to producing top-quality, thrilling fiction. With multiple award nods under his belt – such as a two-time...
Book Reviews
5 books that have changed the way I think about business
As an entrepreneur, I don’t have as much time for reading as I would like; I’m often too busy ‘doing’. But there’s value to be gleaned from other people’s stories of having been there, done that, and lots we can learn from their trials and tribulations. So here are five books that have affected me...
Book reviews – March 2018
By Tim Lawrence I haven’t read the first two Orphan X novels, but I did read and review another Hurwitz novel last year, Tell No Lies, where I said: “ The story is set in San Francisco, the hero is a rich kid with a tough, wealthy mother; he gives up everything to marry his...
Books: Must Reads For May
The Rising Sea By Clive Cussler Cussler has a number of franchises, this time its the latest from the Numa Files, starring Kurt Austin. A new marine based action thriller, starting off in 1573 to set the scene, then back to theimplications today with our heros and the bad guys. I always look forward to...
Books: Must Reads For April
Gallery Of The Dead Chris Carter Robert Hunter, the insomniac genius detective, is back with a novel that fulfills the cover’s proclamation that it is ‘as addictive as a box-set’. I agree, I was bingeing this book at every opportunity. Excellent characters and plot. The Caller Chris Carter Don’t be put off by the tacky...
M2 April 2018 issue
Books: Must Reads For April
Gallery Of The Dead Chris Carter Robert Hunter, the insomniac genius detective, is back with a novel that fulfills the cover’s proclamation that it is ‘as addictive as a box-set’. I agree, I was bingeing this book at every opportunity. Excellent characters and plot. The Caller Chris Carter Don’t be put off by the tacky...
The Samsung Galaxy S9 And S9+
With its Super Slow-mo video, best-in-class low light camera and AR Emoji for a more personalised way to express yourself, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are the smartphone reimagined. The Super Slow-mo feature makes everyday moments epic. Video is captured at a rate of 960 frames per second and can be started manually or through...
A Pearl In Two Shells
(Well, ok, three if you add the Cabriolet) Apparently, there are saloon people and there are those that have a penchant for the styling of a coupe. Mercedes-Benz New Zealand figured they’d let me decide what my preference was by lending me two E400 models, back to back. As you are probably already well aware, the...
How Great People Make A Great Company
Behind any successful business, you’ll usually find great people. The business I founded nine years ago, Pure SEO, is no exception. I’m constantly in awe of my team—and often wonder how I’m the one (sort of) running the company! So many of our people are passionate, committed and incredibly driven, which is what I attribute...
M2 MARCH 2018 issue
Climbing The Podium: Kiwis at the Winter Paralympics
The Winter Games, both Olympic and Paralympic, usually pass with minimal mention down under, but in the case of the compact Kiwi Paralympian team heading to South Korea this March, there’s reason to take notice. For a global event that is heavily dominated by northern hemisphere athletes, New Zealand participants more than hold their own....
Take Flight Into The Future
We’re only two years off 2020. It seems rather matter of fact, but by movie standards, you’d expect we’d be riding around on hover boards, have robot assistants and be flying around in cars, right? Actual technological advancements and ideas tend to live on separate timelines… but the realm of flying cars is becoming excitingly...
The Future of Work – A Millennial’s View
I’m blessed to work with some incredibly switched-on young people at Pure SEO. With today’s entrepreneur acutely aware of disruption and impending changes to the future of work, I decided to sit down with this month, and understand a little around his thoughts on this. Two years out of Otago University, Nathan has been with...
Health News
Fall into autumn this March as we change seasons – get the best, to perform at your peak. New Balance New Balance will release its latest shoe onto the market this month. The annual Grey Day is merging the sophisticated with the sportiest footwear. Made with a breathable suede and a well-made lightwear, the 574...
M2 FEBRUARY 2018 issue
Impact From Simplicity
In a world of exponential innovation, disruptive technologies and giddy cryptocurrency speculation a discussion about another KiwiSaver fund might seem a little vanilla. But after a few minutes with Simplicity founder, Sam Stubbs even the most finically unfocused would be hard pressed not to find excitement in compounded interest from saved fees, the growth of...
The Edge Of The World
There’s no reason not to love a good holiday. But what if you’re looking for a bit more inspiration from your holidaying experience than you get from a traditional Kiwi bach or tent break? Where to then? We at M2 have compiled a list of the top 6 most architecturally beautiful holiday destinations from around...
Wheels News – February 2018
What you need to know in the World of cars this February. URUS A super sports car soul and the functionality typical for an SUV. Introducing the Urus, the world’s first Super Sport Utility Vehicle. Produced by Lamborghini, the URUS opens up new possibilities both on and off road! What? Powered by both a jet...
Man On The Street – Christian Espinoza
Age: 34 Occupation: Studio Manager at Kingsize Studios What’s your morning routine? I wake up at 5am, write down what I want to get done, cook breakfast for my son, leave for work. Then check phone messages. How did you spend your Christmas / New Year’s break? I spent it in Melbourne with family and...
M2 JANUARY 2018 issue
Style News – January 2018
Take to the beach in style this summer, because we’ve been at the gym all year working on our summer bodies, right… Barkers Imagine, you’ve just woken up from a dazed slumber, the gentle rocking of the boat is making light splashes against the sea water: the ultimate summer dream. Look the part on land...
Summer Grooming Essentials
That’s right, this is the last issue of M2 that I will put together in 2017, and therefore the last chance for me to put together a collection of summer essentials. These are the pieces I don’t leave without when heading away for a weekend at the bach. Clockwise from left: Herschel cap, $49.99, from...
Gear Up: The Morning Routine With Shaun Johnson
When Samsung shoulder tapped Shaun Johnson as their new ambassador for the Gear S3 Frontier connected smartwatch, they saw the opportunity to show people just how versatile this smartwatch could be. Gear Up With Shaun Johnson We followed League Legend Shaun Johnson around for the day, check it out! Samsung Posted by M2 Magazine New...
Matt Smith – The Fresh Prince
Time Lord or Prince Charming? Take your pick, but rising star Matt Smith can lay claim to both. The rising style icon, ex-Doctor Who, and now Prince Philip, in Netflix blockbuster The Crown, is beginning to carve out his own kingdom – one role at a time. The divine right of kings is a religious...
M2 DECEMBER 2017 issue - Man of the Year issue
Man On The Street – Michael Bradley
Age: 45 Occupation: Photographer and AMP Scholarship Winner What’s your morning routine? I have to be honest and say I am not a morning person. So first thing in the morning my wife makes me a coffee in bed before anything else. Then it’s a quick check of my emails. I race around getting my three boys ready...
The Evolution Of Coach
This year, we were delighted to present the partnership with Coach for our M2 Man of the Year Awards. As a lifestyle magazine that delivers all things luxury with a humbled approach, it was an obvious decision to create an alignment with Coach. It is a brand that pertains to quality craftsmanship, quirky creativity and...
Destination Du Jour: QT Museum Wellington
While we do like to explore and travel the world in style, it is important to get to know your own back yard before taking on the rest of the globe. And where better to start than in our capital city, Wellington. The bustling city is known as the most creative city in New Zealand...
M2 Man Of The Year 2017
What do you get when you put MC Dominic Bowden, ice chilled Champagne Bollinger, Glenfiddich Cocktails, four delicious Live Food Stations, the soulful sounds of Jennifer Zea and her band, DJ Murry Sweetpants together and a crowd of New Zealand’s finest together at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland? You get the M2 Champagne Bollinger Man...
M2 NOVEMBER 2017 issue
Science Not Fiction
Like it or not, you guys all know the importance of looking after your skin. Yes, that means washing your mug and using those ‘creams and stuff’ that your partner uses – she will love you for it! Cleanse But with so many products out there claiming to do different things, it can become a...
This is What the Future of BMW Looks Like
At CES2017 BMW revealed the BMW i Inside Future sculpture, an experimental concept pushing the boundaries of how we interact with our vehicles. The interior design is more zenlike in its simplicity, and takes the focus away from the driver. In previous BMW’s they’ve aimed all the controls at the driver, making them a pilot at...
Barrel Owners Club
I think we’ve all considered what it would be like to make our own wine. Having rows of grapes stretching across acres of Otago land. While you may not be able to uproot your family and lifestyle to chase idyllic rural dreams you may be able to get in on this personalised wine making business....
MEET THE MAKER – David Alexander Flinn
With the addition of the new fragrance ‘Y’ to the YSL catalogue, the well-seasoned fragrance house teams up with three different artists and a talented creative team to form a campaign that celebrates the makers out there. Meet David Alexander Flinn, a sculptor, filmmaker, artist and model; YSL talks to him about what motivates, challenges...
M2 OCTOBER 2017 issue
Destination Du Jour – ARMANI Hotel Milano
The epitome of luxury, located in the epicentre of Italy’s fashion capital, staying at his hotel should be a no-brainer for fashion lovers, admirers and seekers alike. Milan Fashion Week was established in 1958 and is the third of the global Big Four Fashion Weeks, the others beginning in New York, followed by London, and...
This Silo Museum Is a Sight to Behold
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, which opened in late September is the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world. Made from grain silos decommissioned in 2001, its exterior looks bland and squat. However its interior is an amazing cutaway of concrete tubes. To create such a striking piece of architecture the developers put 500 million...
The Symmetry of an Unexplored World
Garth Badger is heralded as one of the New Zealand’s leading image makers shooting across a broad range of subjects including advertising, fashion, sports and music. Somehow he found himself in Myanmar, a country that has only recently opened its borders, and is somewhat of an unexplored land for tourism. “It was sort of a...
Fitbit has Now Taken Over Your Bathroom
Fitbit, most well known for telling how well you’re doing on your run and general activity has now branched into telling you how much you weigh every morning as well. They’ve recently unveiled its Fitbit Aria 2 Wi-Fi Smart Scale. After you’ve set it up via your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection, it helps you track and understand your...
M2 SEPTEMBER 2017 issue
Ulysse Nardin Picks of 2017
Classic Manufacture “Grand Feu” Emphasis on the perfection of finer details showcases a commitment to precision and meticulousness – everything expected from a true upper tier watch. The Ulysse Nardin Classic Manufacture is exemplary in this field with enamel detailing taking centrestage on the dial. Intensive effort goes into achieving the enameling detailing; Ulysse Nardin...
When To Not Care in Business
It’s not often I get the time to sit down and read a book. Maybe it was something about the title that provoked an interest. If anyone is familiar with the bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life, Mark Manson tells us that not giving...
Best Things Ever Said, September 2017
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein The best revenge is massive success. Frank Sinatra We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not an act but a habit. Aristotle Whether you think you can or you think you can’t,...
The Spring Edit
We have finally passed the last official days of winter, and are looking ahead to the new fashion trends that come with the change of season. As another round of European fashion shows comes to a close, we can look at what trends will be hitting the world of menswear and what looks will start...
M2 AUGUST 2017 issue
Fashion Trend – Winter Gettin’ you Down?
You either love ’em or hate ’em, but puffer jackets have been finding their way into the more ‘accepted’ side of the fashion scene lately. But when it comes to the fact that, yes, it is cold outside, you will find there are, in fact, some pretty cool options out there. Is your finger on...
MARKET LEADER: The driving force behind the real estate evolution
Brendon Skipper’s role as CEO of New Zealand’s No.1 property site, realestate.co.nz, draws on more than 20 years of experience across sales and marketing, property, IT and telecommunications, but he is quick to point out that the CEO role is one that doesn’t come with a manual. Could you describe a standard day for yourself?...
Farmyard Frolics – Audi Q5/SQ5
Over the years, high-end European SUVs have been given the less than gracious nickname Remuera Tractors. Fitted with more bling than an American Rap artist, but with (if possible) less substance behind them, it’s easy to understand why. In truth, their general day-to-day use barely has them venture into a puddle or over a speed...
Alfa Romeo Giulia – An Italian Renaissance
There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind about the love that surrounds Alfa Romeo. Despite, or maybe even because of, its faults and quirkiness, it’s a brand that inspires great passion and desire. Of course, that’s not without just cause: both design and performance are there with abundance. Mind you, it’s fair to say that...
M2 JULY 2017 issue
Man on the Street – Joe Telford
Age: 38 Occupation: Licensed Real Estate Agent What do you have for breakfast? Coffee is normally all I have for breakfast. What is your morning routine? So, my morning routine is that I’m normally up at about 6am to get myself organised and up and ready for the day. And then, after that, the kids wake up....
Best Things Ever Said
The best things in life are on the other side of terror. Will Smith Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again. Richard Branson When was the last time you did what you learnt from your mistakes? Quincy Jones A brand for a company is like a reputation for a...
David Beckham’s Guide To Success – Incredible Lessons for Success On and Off the Field
The prototypical script for a famous footballer goes something like this: You play 10 years (if you’re lucky). Possibly win a league title in the process (if you’re lucky). Finally, you negotiate a broadcasting career where you play pundit and banter with other ‘legends of the sport’ (that is, if you’re lucky). You then retire for...
Mandate July 2017
The Lula Inn is a new bar and eatery on the Viaduct with a unique Pasifika style. Great food and great entertainment, combined with a huge range of gins and some of the best cocktails on the Viaduct. If you are looking for a night out in town that is a little bit different, then...
M2 JUNE 2017 issue
Kiwis At The Cup – A New Zealand History In The America’s Cup
As the billionaires and their boats descend on Bermuda for the 35th America’s Cup, Team New Zealand will be once again showing why they are at the cutting edge of yachting evolution. Against a perpetual wall of money, Kiwi sailors have always found a way to get around or over it with skill, innovation, and...
Man Made & Nature, Things Worth Seeing
Grand Prismatic Spring, in Yellowstone National Park, United states The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the US, and the third-largest in the world, after our very own Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica. The vivid colours in the spring are the result...
REPORT: The Truth Behind the Housing Crisis
There have been countless conversations about affordable housing and what (or who) is to blame. Little of this conversation, however, has taken into consideration the problem of expensive materials. Could addressing this be the solution to affordable housing? Whenever talk turns to housing, whether it is on the news or in a brave office conversation,...
Logan Dodds Captures The Action
Being the social media sensation that he is, Logan Dodds is evidently no stranger to being in the limelight. When it comes to capturing the right mood, combined with the right moment, his vision is faultless and his adventurous spirit makes for some of the most breath taking and jaw dropping moments ever to grace...
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